French economist to join international committee of experts advising the party on economic policy ahead of general election.

The French economist Thomas Piketty – famous for his controversial book on wealth and inequality – is to advise Spain’s anti-austerity party Podemos.

The author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century has agreed to join an international committee of experts that will advise Podemos on its economic programme as the party prepares to fight its first general election in December.

Piketty will work with the leftwing party on developing policies to combat inequality – the theme of his bestselling 2013 book and on measures to democratise the eurozone – Podemos said in a statement on Monday.

Frustration with economic crisis austerity and corruption in high places has fed the rise of new Spanish parties such as Podemos – which translates as ‘we can’ and the centrist Ciudadanos (‘citizens’), which are challenging the ruling rightwing People’s party and the opposition Socialists.